Aerosol container having cap-actuator with dip-tube orienting means



Jan. 7, 1969 MARDER 3,420,410

AEROSOL CONTAINER HAVING CAP-ACTUATOR WITH DIP-TUBE ORIENTING MEANS Filed Aug. 4, 1966 INVENTOR HERMAN L.MARDER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,420,410 AEROSOL CONTAINER HAVING CAP-ACTUATOR WITH DIP-TUBE ORIENTING MEANS Herman L. Marder, Plainfield, N.J., assignor to American Home Products, Incorporated, New York, N.Y., a corporation of Delaware Filed Aug. 4, 1966, Ser. No. 570,329

US. Cl. 22248 Int. Cl. B05b 9/04 4 Claims ABSTRACT OF THE DISCLOSURE A cap-actuator for an aerosol container is provided with dip-tube orienting means comprising a visual marking on the valve cup on which the dip-tube is mounted, and an aperture in the cap-actuator to permit visual alignment of said cap-actuator with said marking.

In the aerosol container art, it has been found desirable, and often necessary, for the purpose of dispensing certain products; to have the spray nozzle which is normally structurally associated with the cap and actuator structure (hereinafter referred to as cap-actuator) correlatively positioned with respect to the curvature of the dip-tube mounted on the valve housing or mounting cup of the containers. With such positioning, the contents of the containers can be effectively discharged and the containers ultimately emptied during normal tilting thereof from the vertical while in use, without inadvertent and/or disproportionate loss of the propellant provided in the containers.

Presently, it is common practice for the valve manufacturer to provide a mark on the peripheral bead of the valve mounting cup for indicating the direction of curvature of the dip-tube mounted thereon. It is a similarly common practice for the manufacturer or container-assembler to orient the cap-actuator and therewith its spray nozzle so that the latter is aligned with the diptube curvature mark, by mechanical means during the manufacture of the aerosol dispensing units. The desired orientation of the cap-actuator spray nozzle assembly with the dip-tube curvature mark is alternatively done manually by hand operators. The equipment necessary for automatic assembly and orientation of the cap-actuators on the containers, after mounting of the marked dip-tube valve cup assemblies thereon, involves costly capital outlay, and moreover, necessitates the provision of means or of close fit tolerances to maintain the cap-actuators in the oriented position. The hand assembly and orientation of such cap-actuators, on the other hand, adds to the processing costs of the aerosol units on a continuing basis. Moreover, there is presently no assurance provided that the orientation by either of said procedures can be effectuated for all (100 percent) of the units so processed because of inherent errors in machine operation, cooperative structure tolerances, and/ or hand processing. Finally, there is also the possibility for the cap-actuators turning from their oriented positions on the containers, in any case, due to joggling in transit and/ or 3,420,410 Patented Jan. 7, 1969 when later handled, as by the manual removal from their shipping cases, the placing of the units on display shelves, the removal therefrom by the customer, hard usage by the latter, and the like.

In recognition of the disadvantages and drawbacks of the prior art aerosol dispensing container assemblies referred to above, it has been proposed that the desired orientation not be done during manufacture. Thus, it has been suggested that, instead, the orientation be accomplished by the ultimate consumer. For such purpose, cooperative detent locking means have been provided on the valve mounting cup and cap-actuator assemblies whereby snap interlocking between said assemblies occurs when the cap-actuator is rotated on the container to the locus of proper orientation. In a specific adaptation of the principle, a small protuberance has been provided on the bead of the valve mounting cup, which protuberance locks into a slot provided on the cap-actuator, when the latter is turned to properly oriented position. Such additional structures for the valve mounting cup and cap-actuator assemblies present problems of their own. For example, the valve mounting cup, which is normally made of metal, must be structurally modified at one point on its periphery and, of course, the cap-actuator must be complementarily modified, with attendant manufacturing complications and concomitant increases in production costs. Moreover, the cap-actuator, being conventiona-lly of plastic, the detent structure thereof may be frangible in any case, and particularly, since it is contacted by the coactive metal detent structure of the valve mounting cup. Hence, this approach to the problem has not met with wide-spread acceptance.

In another approach, which in effect is a step backward in the art, the advantages of the highly desirable cap-actuator structures have been given up entirely. That is, said cap-actuators have been omitted and substituted for by reverting to the small button actuator and spray nozzle of the prior art. For the desired orienting purpose, an arrow or other i-ndicia has been provided on the top of the button to permit alignment with the aforesaid standard mark on the valve mounting cup and, 'hence, the orientation of the spray nozzle of the actuator-button with the dip-tube. In addition to the loss of the obviously desirable attributes of the now substantially universally accepted cap-actuator structure for aerosol containers in some form; the small valve actuator and spray nozzle button, being mounted on a substantially minute bearing surface afforded by valve stem circumference, is prone to being easily rotatable inadvertently out of alignment during use.

In consideration of the above, it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an aerosol container having a cap-actuator dispensing nozzle assembly with dip-tube orienting means, by utilization of a surprisingly simple, but 'highly effective, structural arrangement.

It is another object of this invention to provide an aerosol container of the type referred to above comprising such a structural arrangement which is readily adaptable to currently available cap-actuator dispensing-nozzle assemblies.

It is another object of the invention to provide such assemblies which permit facile manual orientation by the user when desired or required, but which are not prone to inadvertent disorientation when in use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent as a result of a better understanding thereof upon reference to the following description.

Generally, the invention resides in the provision of an aerosol container which comprises: a cylindrical body having a bottom closure and a top closure, a valve cup assembly mounted on the top closure, a dip-tube depending from the valve cup assembly and extending into the container to a location adjacent to the bottom closure, said dip-tube having an inlet orifice at the end thereof, the dip-tube being contoured so that the inlet orifice is located in the region of the juncture of the cylindrical body and the bottom closure, a valve stem mounted on the valve cup assembly, a cap-actuator assembly having a skirt, means rotatably mounting the cap-actuator assembly on the top of the container with the skirt shielding the valve cup assembly from view, said cap-actuator assembly also having associated for rotatable movement therewith a dispensing nozzle, means rotatably connecting the dispensing nozzle with the valve stem mounted on the valve cup assembly, a visual marking located on the valve cup assembly in predetermined relationship to the location of the inlet orifice of the dip-tube and an opening in the skirt of the cap-actuator assembly through which the marking on the valve cup assembly is observable when the capactuator assembly is rotated on the top of the container to the position at which the dispensing nozzle associated with the cap-actuator assembly is properly oriented with respect to the disposition of the inlet orifice of the diptube.

A specific embodiment of the invention is now described below with reference to the accompanying drawings wherein:

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of an aerosol container having a cap-actuator assembly with dip-tube orienting means in accordance with the invention, the container being shown in tilted disposition for use, with a part of the container body and of the cap-actuator assembly, respectively, broken away;

FIG. 2 is an exploded rear elevational view of the device shown in FIG. 1, prior to assembly, with the observation opening in the cap-actuator assembly disposed in haphazard or unaligned relationship with respect to the mark on the valve cup assembly on which it is to be mounted; and

FIG. 3 is a rear elevational view of the device shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, with the parts operatively assembled and the cap-actuator assembly rotated to expose the mark on the valve cup assembly through the opening in the skirt of the cap-actuator assembly.

Referring now to FIG. 1 of the drawings, the aerosol container 2 disclosed therein comprises a cylindrical body 3, having a bottom closure 4 and a top closure 5. Fixedly mounted in top closure 5 by means of its crimped bead 6, is a valve cup assembly 7. A dip-tube 8 depends from valve-cup assembly 7 and extends into cylindrical body 3 to a location adjacent to bottom closure 4. Dip-tube 8 is contoured so that the inlet orifice 9 at the distal end thereof is located in a region of the juncture 10 of cylindrical body 3 and bottom closure 4. Valve cup assembly 7 has a visual marking 18 on bead 6 thereof, which marking is opposite to, and, hence indicates the direction of, the curvature of contoured dip-tube 8, and, thus, the orientation of inlet orifice 9 at the end thereof. Valve cup assembly 7 is further provided with the usual depressable valve stem 11 which functions also as a conduit in valve-controlled communication with dip-tube 8, in conventional manner.

A cap-actuator assembly 12, having a main circumferential body 23, to which is appended a skirt 13; is rotatably mounted on bead 6 of valve-cup assembly 7 by said skirt 13, and is maintained in such relationship by means of a snap-acting inturned lip 14 at the lower region of said skirt. Attached to cap actuator assembly 12 by means of a flexible hinge connection 15, is a movable press button 16. Press button 16 has attached thereto a nipple 17 adapted to be press-fitted for rotation on valve stem 11 of valve cup assembly 7.

Nipple 17 communicates with a short conduit 19 within the body of press button 16. Short conduit 19 communicates with a laterally extending passageway 20 which terminates in an outlet 21 into the dispensing nozzle 22 provided on main body 23 of cap-actuator assembly 12. As appears in FIG. 1, laterally extending passageway 20 passes through flexible hinge connection 15, by which press button 16 is attached to the main body 23 of capactuator assembly 12. Skirt 13 has a small aperture or window 24 located therein just above the region of lip 14, and aligned diametrically opposite dispensing nozzle 22.

As appears in FIG. 2, force-fitting of the cap-actuator assembly 12 onto container 2, as by conventional assemblying apparatus, or by manual means; causes snapacting lip 14 to engage underneath head 6 of valve-cup assembly 7. In accordance with the invention, no care need be taken with respect to alignment of window 24 in the bottom edge of skirt 13 of cap-actuator assembly 12 with respect to visual marking 18 on bead 6. Thus, there is normally a haphazard relationship of said window 24 to visual marking 18, as illustrated in FIG. 2. Hence, it will be appreciated that there is a similar nonalignment of inlet orifice 9 in the distal end of dip-tube 8, with respect to dispensing nozzle 22.

In the operation of the aerosol container 2 by the ultimate user, the cap-actuator assembly 12 is merely rotated manually on bead 6 of the valve cup assembly 7, until the visual marking 18 on bead 6 appears in window 24 of skirt 13, as best seen in FIG. 3. With such relationsip of the various parts, the dispensing nozzle 22 is automatically properly aligned with respect to the inlet orifice 9 at the end of the curved dip-tube 8. With such alignment maintained, and in conjunction with the normal inclination of container 2 for spraying or dispensing use, as illustrated in FIG. 1; said inlet orifice 9 is located in the lowest region of the inclined container 2, adjacent to the juncture 10 between cylindrical body 3 and bottom closure 4, thereby to assure that inlet orifice 9 is covered with the liquid medium present in container 2, at all times during use. This, of course, includes dispensing use of the container up to the substantially complete emptying of said container via dispensing nozzle 22.

As will appear to those skilled in the art, various modifications and variations in the specific embodiment described hereinbefore may be made without departing from the spirit and scope thereof as defined in the appended claims. For example, the orientation mark on the valve mounting cup can be a fine line of any desired color to pin-point exactly the position of the curvature of the diptube, or it can be a broad mark to indicate the general radius of the curved dip-tube position. The opening or window in the cap-actuator assembly may take on almost any configuration; for example, the opening may be a triangular notch cut out of the bottom edge of the capactuator assembly skirt, or it can be an opening such as a window, which can be oval, circular, rectangular, triangular, etc., as long as it provides a view of the orientation mark on the valve cup assembly when the capactuator assembly is turned to a position which aligns the window with the mark. The maximum size of the opening may be governed merely by the consideration that it will not interfere with the required proper friction grip of the cap-actuator assembly on the valve cup assembly, or on any other mounting means provided on the container.

In regard to such other mounting means which may be provided, as referred to above; the cap-actuator assembly may alternatively be of the conventional type wherein the skirt means thereof have a maximum circumference dimension substantially equal to that of the circumference of the cylindrical body of the container, and the assembly is mounted on the container top per se, at least in part, by said skirt means, as exemplified by the cap-actuator assembly or over-cap disclosed in US. Patent 3,006,510. In the application of the present invention to such type assemblies, the window to permit viewing of the visual marking on the valve cup assembly may be provided in the form of a sight-tube extending inwardly from the periphery of the skirt of the cap-actuator assembly to the area of the valve cup assembly on which the orientation mark is located.

The manner in which the window or opening can be made in the cap-actuator assembly may follow wellknown procedures in the art and skill of molding plastics. Alternatively, the window or opening may also be made by a punch die or other mechanical means, also familiar to those skilled in the art. In any case, the cap-actuator assemblies utilized maybe either those currently manufactured by aerosol valve companies and which may be readily adapted structurally for the purposes of the present invention, or others particularly designed for said purposes.

As will be also obvious to those skilled in the art, the terms spray nozzle and dispensing nozzle whenever used herein, and in the appended claims, is intended of course, to cover, in addition to those spray orifices adapted to discharge air-borne and residual sprays dispensed from aerosol containers; also those dispensing outlets which may be adapted for discharging aerosol foams, lathers, creams, liquid streams, mixtures containing solids, or any other aerosol mixtures, including viscous pastes.

I claim:

1. An aerosol container which comprises:

a cylindrical body having a bottom closure and a top closure, a valve cup assembly mounted on said top closure, a dip-tube depending from said valve cup assembly and extending into said container to a location adjacent to said bottom closure, said diptube having an inlet orifice at the end thereof, said dip-tube being contoured so that said inlet orifice is located in the region of the juncture of said cylindrical body and said bottom closure, a valve stem mounted on said valve cup assembly, a capactuator assembly having a skirt, means rotatably mounting said cap-actuator assembly on the top of said container with said skirt shielding said valve cup assembly from view, said means rotatably mounting said cap-actuator assembly on said container comprising a snap-acting inturned lip provided in the lower region of said skirt of said cap-actuator as sembly, said cap-actuator assembly also having associated therewith for rotatable movement therewith a dispensing nozzle, means mounted on said capactuator assembly rotatably connecting said dispensing nozzle with said valve stem mounted on said valve cup assembly, a visual marking located on said valve cup assembly in predetermined relationship to said location of said inlet orifice of said curved diptube, and an opening in said skirt of said cap-act-uator assembly through which said marking on said valve cup assembly is observable when said cap-actuator assembly is rotated on top of said container to the position at which said dispensing nozzle associated with said cap-actuator is properly oriented substantially in alignment with respect to the disposition of said inlet orifice of said dip-tube.

2. An aerosol container as defined in claim 1, wherein said visual marking is located on the bead of said valve cup assembly.

3. An aerosol container as defined in claim 1, wherein said means mounted on said cap-actuator assembly rotatably connecting said dispensing nozzle with said valve stem mounted on said valve cup assembly comprise pushbutton means for actuating said valve stem.

4. An aerosol container as defined in claim 3, wherein said push-button means is attached to said cap-actuator assembly by flexible hinging means through which extend conduit means and said conduit means are in communication at one end thereof with said valve stem and at the other end thereof with said dispensing noule.

References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 662,353 11/1900 Clement 222-48 X 2,667,993 2/1954 Ayres 222-394 2,767,680 10/ 1956 Lermer. 2,865,370 12/1958 Gattone 239-337 X 2,975,943 3/ 1961 Miles et al 222-394 3,006,510 10/1961 Sagarin 222-47 X 3,195,783 7/1965 Crowell 222402.13 3,301,438 1/1967 Tillotson 222-41 ROBERT B. REEVES, Primary Examiner. N. L. STACK, Assistant Examiner.

US. Cl. X.R. 

